Mon, 11/18/2024 - 12:26pm

Candi Joneth, News Contributor

BRHS Drama presents “I Can Do That” CANDI JONETH/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Drama presented two performances of “I Can Do That” – a Cabaret-style Broadway Review on Saturday, Nov. 16. The show showcased the best of five Broadways hits, starting with five songs from “Oklahoma!” (Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1943), then progressing through songs from “Cats” (Webber, 1939), “High School Musical” (Barsocchini, 2006), “Chicago” (Kander, Ebb & Fosse, 1975) and “A Chorus Line” (Hamlisch & Kleban, 1975). In all, 26 songs were performed, mostly solos and duets, by an eight-person cast.

Senior Spencer Pottle’s name has become synonymous with flawlessness and, somehow, he manages to push himself into unexplored territories that engage and wow that audience in new ways. In addition to vocal excellence in three solos, four duets and three full-cast numbers, Pottle danced with the dexterity and finesse of an old pro to Sarah Harris’ choreography in “Fabulous,” tossed his dance partner Sophia Mansfield with exacting precision in “Bop to the Top” and delighted show-goers with a tap performance in the review’s title tag “I Can Do That.” Pottle is known for his mature, professional approach to his craft; it is evident that Pottle’s scholarly dedication to theater keeps him front and center in leading roles and his commitment to continuous learning has given him impressive range across a broad spectrum of talents.

The soulful-sweet vocals we’ve come to associate with Hannah Hills were on full display in her two solos and one duet, but it was her unapologetic rendition of poisoning her husband in Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango” that left the crowd reeling. “I like dark Hannah,” said one concert-goer. Indeed, Cook County Prison has never been so homicidally alluring as when these female cast members sang how they murdered (allegedly) their husbands. There was a brief pause in the song for the newest murderess, Chloe Joneth, to be put behind bars.

Junior Sarah Harris, a powerhouse for the show, impresses behind the scenes as much as in her stage time. Harris’s experience choreographing BRHS (and other) productions achieves a sum greater than its individual parts. She provides the show with artful cohesion while setting the pace for the cast, delivering a unified show across a disparate program of musical numbers. On stage, she brings mood, typically humor and sass, to her songs: three solos, one duet, one trio and all four full-cast sets.

Sophia Mansfield has arrived. Audiences have seen glimpses of her raw potential in prior shows but in this show, she pulled out all the stops, confidently exposing her unmatched vocal capabilities. Her resonance provides a unique, almost gravelly, signature sound and her ability to connect emotionally with the lyrics, the music, and the audience offers expressiveness that was shied away before. She simply mesmerizes the audience. More please!

The freshmen performers don’t deserve to be in the sixth paragraph of this article. Under any normal circumstances, based on talent, they share the limelight with their upper classmates, but this show was not a normal circumstance, and the cast was simply stacked with talent. Kudos to Jayden Coulombe for two solo performances including the lovable but grouchy “Mister Cellophane.” Adaline Barter is an exciting addition to BRHS drama, with two solos to brag about. And saving the best for last, Natalie Flagg is over-the-moon hot stuff; second only to Pottle in the number of songs performed, Flagg’s sound is bluesy and honest with a warm intensity that will build the future of BRHS drama.

The show was directed by Dr. Mary Miller, with props and costumes by Mrs. Susie Taylor. Sarah Harris, choreographer; Jessica Raburn on lights; Alex and Candi Joneth on box office; the sophomore class provided concessions. Miller would like to thank BRHS maintenance, students, parents and teachers.